MARCH 19TH

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK

'Tis less discredit to abridge petty charges, than to stoop to petty Gettings.

— Benjamin Franklin,1738

AMERICANREVOLUTION.ORG

Dicey Langston

The portion of South Carolina near the frontier,
watered by the Pacolet, the Tyger, and the Ennoree, comprising
Spartanburg and Union Districts, witnessed many deeds of violence
and blood, and many bold achievements of the hardy partisans.
It could also boast its full complement of women whose aid in
various ways was of essential service to the patriots. So prevalent
was loyalism in the darkest of those days, so bitter was the
animosity felt towards, the whigs, and so eager the determination
to root them from the soil, that the very recklessness of hate
gave frequent opportunities for the betrayal of the plans to
their enemies. Often were the boastings of those who plotted
some midnight surprise, or some enterprise that promised rare
pillage, uttered in the hearing of weak and despised women, unexpectedly
turned into wonder at the secret agency that had disconcerted
them, or execrations upon their own folly. The tradition of the
country teems with accounts of female enterprise in this kind
of service, very few instances of which were recorded in the
military journals.

The patriots were frequently indebted for
important information to one young girl, fifteen or sixteen years
old at the commencement of the war. This was Dicey, the daughter
of Solomon Langston of Laurens District. He was in principle
a stout liberty man, but incapacitated by age and infirmities
from taking any active part in the contest. His son was a devoted
patriot, and was ever found in the field where his services were
most needed. He had his home in the neighborhood, and could easily
receive secret intelligence from his sister, who was always on
the alert. Living surrounded by loyalists, some of whom were
her own relatives, Miss Langston found it easy to make herself
acquainted with their movements and plans, and failed not to
avail herself of every opportunity to do so, and immediately
to communicate what she learned to the whigs on the other side
of the Ennoree River. At length suspicion of the active aid she
rendered was excited among the tory neighbors. Mr. Langston was
informed that he would be held responsible thenceforward, with
his property, for the conduct of his daughter. The young girl
was reproved severely, and commanded to desist from her patriotic
treachery. For a time she obeyed the parental injunction; but
having heard by accident that a company of loyalists, who on
account of their ruthless cruelty had been commonly called the
"Bloody Scout," intent on their work of death, were
about to visit the "Elder settlement" where her brother
and some friends were living, she determined at all hazards to
warn them of the intended expedition. She had none in whom to
confide; but was obliged to leave her home alone, by stealth,
and at the dead hour of night. Many miles were to be traversed,
and the road lay through woods, and crossed marshes and creeks,
where the conveniences of bridges and footlogs were wanting.
She walked rapidly on, heedless of slight difficulties; but her
heart almost failed her when she came to the banks of the Tyger
- a deep and rapid stream, which there was no possibility of
crossing except by wading through the ford. This she knew to
be deep at ordinary times, and it had doubtless been rendered
more dangerous by the rains that had lately fallen. But the thought
of personal danger weighed not with her, in comparison to the
duty she owed her friends and country. Her momentary hesitation
was but the shrinking of nature from peril encountered in darkness
and alone, when the imagination conjures up a thousand appalling
ideas, each more startling than the worst reality. Her strong
heart battled against these, and she resolved to accomplish her
purpose, or perish in the attempt. She entered the water; but
when in the middle of the ford, became bewildered, and knew not
which direction to take. The hoarse rush of the waters, which
were up to her neck - the blackness of the night - the utter
solitude around her - the uncertainty lest the next step should
ingulph her past help, confused her; and losing in a degree her
self-possession, she wandered for some time in the channel without
knowing whither to turn her steps. But the energy of a resolute
will, under the care of Providence, sustained her. Having with
difficulty reached the other side, she lost no time in hastening
to her brother, informed him and his friends of the preparations
made to surprise and destroy them, and urged him to send his
men instantly in different directions to arouse and warn the
neighborhood. The soldiers had just returned from a fatiguing
excursion, and complained that they were faint from want of food.
The noble girl, not satisfied with what she had done at such
risk to herself, was ready to help them still further by providing
refreshment immediately. Though wearied, wet, and shivering with
cold, she at once set about her. preparations. A few boards were
taken from the roof of the house, a fire was kindled with them,
and in a few minutes a hoecake, partly baked, was broken into
pieces, and thrust into the shot pouches of the men. Thus provisioned,
the little company hastened to give the alarm to their neighbors,
and did so in time for all to make their escape. The next day,
when the "scout" visited the place, they found no living
enemy on whom to wreak their vengeance.

At a later period of the war, the father of
Miss Langston incurred the displeasure of the loyalists in consequence
of the active services of his sons in their country's cause.
They were known to have imbibed their principles from him; and
he was marked out as an object of summary vengeance. A party
came to his house with the desperate design of putting to death
all the men of the family. The sons were absent; but the feeble
old man, selected by their relentless hate as a victim, was in
their power. He could not escape or resist, and he scorned to
implore their mercy. One of the company drew a pistol, and deliberately
levelled it at the breast of Langston. Suddenly a wild shriek
was heard; and his young daughter sprang between her aged parent
and the fatal weapon. The brutal soldier roughly ordered her
to get out of the way, or the contents of the pistol would be
instantly lodged in her own heart. She heeded not the threat,
which was but too likely to be fulfilled the next moment. Clasping
her arms tightly round the old man's neck, she declared that
her own body should first receive the ball aimed at his heart
! There are few human beings, even of the most depraved, entirely
insensible to all noble and generous impulses. On this occasion
the conduct of the daughter, so fearless, so determined to shield
her father's life by the sacrifice of her own, touched the heart
even of a member of the "Bloody Scout." Langston was
spared; and the party left the house filled with admiration at
the filial affection and devotion they had witnessed.

At another time the heroic maiden showed herself
as ready to prevent wrong to an enemy as to her friends. Her
father's house was visited by a company of whigs, who stopped
to get some refreshment, and to feed their wearied horses. In
the course of conversation one of them mentioned that they were
going to visit a tory neighbor, for the purpose of seizing his
horses. The man whose possessions were thus to be appropriated
had been in general a peaceful citizen; and Mr. Langston determined
to inform him of the danger in which his horses stood of having
their ownership changed. Entering cordially into her father's
design, Miss Langston set off immediately to carry the information.
She gave it in the best faith; but just before she started on
her return home, she discovered that the neighbor whom she had
warned was not only taking precautions to save his property,
but was about to send for the captain of a tory band not far
distant, so that the "liberty men" might be captured
when intent on their expedition, before they should be aware
of their danger. It was now the generous girl's duty to perform
a like friendly act towards the whigs. She lost no time in conveying
the intelligence, and thus saved an enemy's property, and the
lives of her friends.

Her disregard of personal danger, where service
could be rendered, was remarkable. One day, returning from a
whig neighborhood in Spartanburg District, she was met by a company
of loyalists, who ordered her to give them some intelligence
they desired respecting those she had just left. She refused;
whereupon the captain of the band held a pistol to her breast,
and ordered her instantly to make the disclosures, or she should
"die in her tracks." Miss Langston only replied, with
the cool intrepidity of a veteran soldier: "Shoot me if
you dare! I will not tell you," at the same time opening
a long handkerchief which covered her neck and bosom, as if offering
a place to receive the contents of the weapon. Incensed by her
defiance, the officer was about to fire, when another threw up
his hand, and saved the courageous girl's life.

On one occasion, when her father's house was
visited on a plundering expedition by the noted tory Captain
Gray with his riflemen, and they had collected and divided every
thing they thought could be of use, they were at some loss what
to do with a large pewter basin. At length the captain determined
on taking that also, jeeringly remarking, "it will do to
run into bullets to kill the rebels." "Pewter bullets,
sir," answered Miss Langston, "will not kill a whig."
"Why not?" inquired Captain Gray. "It is said,
sir," replied she, "that a witch can be shot only with
a silver bullet; and I am sure the whigs are more under the protection
of Providence." At another time when a company of the enemy
came to the house they found the door secured. To their demand
for admission and threats of breaking down the door, Miss Langston
answered by sternly bidding them begone. Her resolute language
induced the company to "hold a parley", and the result
was that they departed without further attempt to obtain an entrance.

One more anecdote is given to illustrate her
spirit and fearlessness. Her brother James had left a rifle in
her care, which she was to keep hid till he sent for it. He did
so, by a company of "liberty men," who were to return
by his father's dwelling. On arriving at the house, one of them
asked the young girl for the gun. She went immediately, and brought
it; but as she came towards the soldiers, the thought struck
her that she had neglected to ask for the countersign agreed
upon between her brother and herself. Advancing more cautiously
- she observed to them that their looks were suspicious; that
for aught she knew they might be a set of tories; and demanded
the countersign. One of the company answered that it was too
late to make conditions; the gun was in their possession, and
its holder, too. "Do you think so," cried she, cocking
it, and presenting the muzzle at the speaker. "If the gun
is in your possession, take charge of her!" Her look and
attitude of defiance showed her in earnest; the countersign was
quickly given; and the men, laughing heartily, pronounced her
worthy Of being the sister of James Langston.

After the war was ended, Miss Langston married
Thomas Springfield, of Greenville, South Carolina. She died in
Greenville District, a few years since. Of her numerous descendants
then living, thirty-two were sons and grandsons capable of bearing
arms, and ready at any time to do so in the maintenance of that
liberty which was so dear to the youthful heart of their ancestor.

The recollection of the courage and patriotism
of Mrs. Dillard is associated with the details of a battle of
considerable importance, which took place in Spartanburg District,
at the Green Spring, near Berwick's iron works. The Americans
here gained great honor. Colonel Clarke, of the Georgia volunteers,
joined with Captains McCall, Liddle, and Hammond, in all about
one hundred and ninety eight men, having received intelligence
that a body of tory militia, stated to be from two to five hundred,
commanded by Colonel Ferguson, were recruiting for the horse
service, determined to attempt to rout them. They marched accordingly;
and hearing that a scouting party was in advance of Ferguson's
station, prepared to give them battle. Colonel Clarke, with his
forces, encamped for the night at Green Spring.

On that day the Americans had stopped for
refreshment at the house of Captain Dillard, who was with their
party as a volunteer. They had been entertained by his wife with
milk and potatoes, the simple fare which those hardy soldiers
often found it difficult to obtain. The same evening Ferguson
and Dunlap, with a party of tories, arrived at the house. They
inquired of Mrs. Dillard whether Clarke and his men had not been
there; what time they had departed; and what were their numbers
? She answered that they had been at the house; that she could
not guess their numbers; and that they had been gone a long time.
The officers then ordered her to prepare supper for them with
all possible despatch. They took possession of the house, and
took some bacon to be given to their men. Mrs. Dillard set about
the preparations for supper. In going backwards and forwards
from the kitchen, she overheard much of their conversation. It
will be remembered that the kitchens at the South are usually
separate from the dwelling- houses. The doors and windows of
houses in the country being often slightly constructed, it is
also likely that the loose partitions afforded facilities for
hearing what might be said within. Besides, the officers probably
apprehended no danger from disclosing their plans in the presence
of a lonely woman.

She ascertained that they had determined to
surprise Clarke and his party; and were to pursue him as soon
as they had taken their meal. She also heard one of the officers
tell Ferguson he had just received the information that the rebels,
with Clarke, were to encamp that night at the Great Spring. It
was at once resolved to surprise and attack them before day.
The feelings may be imagined with which Mrs. Dillard heard this
resolution announced. She hurried the supper, and as soon as
it was placed upon the table, and the officers had sat down,
slipped out by a back way. Late and dark as it was, her determination
was to go herself and apprize Clarke of his danger, in the hope
of being in time for him to make a safe retreat; for she believed
that the enemy were too numerous to justify a battle.

She went to the stable, bridled a young horse,
and without saddle, mounted and rode with all possible speed
to the place described. It was about half an hour before day
when she came in full gallop to one of the videttes, by whom
she was immediately conducted to Colonel Clarke. She called to
the colonel, breathless with eagerness and haste, "Be in
readiness either to fight or run; the enemy will be upon you
immediately, and they are strong !"

In an instant every man was up, and no moments
were lost in preparing for action. The intelligence came just
in time to put the whigs in readiness. Ferguson had detached
Dunlap with two hundred picked mounted men, to engage Clarke
and keep him employed till his arrival. These rushed in full
charge into the American camp; but the surprise was on their
part. They were met hand to hand, with a firmness they had not
anticipated. Their confusion was increased by the darkness, which
rendered it hard to distinguish friend from foe. The battle was
warm for fifteen or twenty minutes, when the tories gave way.
They were pursued nearly a mile, but not overtaken. Ferguson
came "too late for the frolic;" the business being
ended. Clarke and his little band then returned to North Carolina
for rest and refreshment; for the whole of this enterprise was
performed without one regular meal, and without regular food
for their horses.